Automatic fire-alarm



G. B. RATTERMANN @a W. W. GARRSON.

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM. APPLICATION FILED APR.2I. 1915.

PatentedAug. 22, 1916.

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mlmum 'l WlTN ESS ES ATTO R N EY G. B. RATTERIVIANN & W. W. GARHISON.

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM.'

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY s. B; IIATIEIIII/IANN & w. W. GARRISON.

l AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM. APPLICATION FILED APII.2I, I9I5.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY G.. B. RATTERMANN & W. W. GARRISON.

' AuToMAT|c FIRE ALARM.

3,1 95999 APPLICATIO-N FILED APR. 21| 191.5. 22,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTO R N EY PATENT. @FFIQE GEORGE B. RATTERMANN AND WALTER W. GARRISON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC Emu-ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 11916.

Application filed April 21, 1915. Serial No. 22,929.

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that we, GEORGE B..RA'1'rER MANN and WALTER W. GAEEIsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county .of Jefferson and State of Alabama. have invented a new Aand useful Automatic Fire-Alarm, of which the followaiarm' systems.

In accordance with the present invention a building is equipped with as many local alarm sending apparatus as may be needed with each such apparatus under the control of one or more devices responsive'- to fire conditions, so that in the event of a re and before such fire has gained uncontrollable headway the alarm sending apparatus is set into operation tq transmit to the proper authorities such signals as may indicate the location o'f the fire, and, if desired,l simultaneous with the transmissionrof such signals an audible or telephonie message is sent to a telephone central station for separate transmission to the proper authorities by the telephone central station operator.

lThe present invention comprises mechanism whereby these operations are brought about in the event of a re, and also lincludes means whereby the `municipalV system is maintainedintact in working condition after the sending of suchan alarm even though the signal sending apparatus should fail to stop at the proper position as might sometimes happen. For this purpose the present invention, which causes electrical transmission of the signals, contemplates the use of a switch which will cause the closing of the circuit of the street fire ralarm system even though the local transmitting mechanism fails to stop at the proper poin't, so that the street system remains in commission.

Since it isoften desirable to turn in an alarm before conditions reach the point causing the automatic Sending of the alarm, the

present invention contemplates the association with the automatic alarm of a manually operable circuit-closing means which may be of the character requiring the breaking of a sheet of glass in order to turn in the alarm, or such manually operable circuit closer maybe of some other typewh'ereby the automatic alarm sending devices are ,set into motion.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modied so long as. such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention.

-In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe signal sending apparatus. Fig..2is an elevation of the signal sending apparatus as seen on the side remote from the telephone. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the structure of Fig. 1 as viewed from the left hand end thereof. Fig. 6 is asection on the line 6 6 y of Fig. 1 with dista-nt parts omitted. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1, distant parts being omitted. Fig. 10 is a diagram of the local re alarm system; Fig. 11 is a. perspective view of the normally operable circuit closer. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior mechanism of the device of Fig. 11.

Before describing the system and the manner in which it operates the mechanical and electromechanical structures and devices employed will be described. p Referring first to Figs. 1 to 9 and associated figures, there is shown a base 1 upon which at a point about midway of its length there is mounted a spring motor. This motor has side plates 2, 3 connected by spacing the ordinary construction is not shown in the` drawings., l

The spring drum 6 has attached to it a large gear Wheel '7 in mesh with a pinion 8 1 j on an'arbor 9 journaled in the plates 2 and 3, and the pinion 8 1s in mesh wlth a gear Also journaled in the plates 2 and 3 near one y edge thereof is a shaft 21 carrying a pulley 22 connected to the pulley 20 by a belt 23, so that the pulley 20 to whichY motion is imparted in a manner to be described transmits motion to the shaft 21 by way of the belt 23 and pulley 22. The shaft 21 projects beyond the plate 2 and there carries al mandrel 24 of a size and shape to receive a sound record tablet 25, which tablet is shown in the drawings as of the cylindrical form, but it Will, of course, be understood that by an appropriate change in the mechanism a disk tablet may be employed, the in- 'terchangeability of sound reproducing mechanisms being Well understood.

The gear wheel 13 is'in mesh with a pinion 26 on a shaft 27 journaled in the plates 2 and 3 and extending beyond both plates to the ends of the base plate 1 where the shaft is suitably mounted in end plates or uprights 28, 29 erected on the base plate 1.

The shaft 27 between the plate 2 and upright 2S has a screw threaded portion. 30 and between the plate 3 and upright 29 has a screwthreaded portion 31. Inthe particu"- lar construction shown the threaded portions 30 and 31 are oppositely threaded one to the other.

Connecting the upper end of the upright 28 to the plate 2 is a rod 32 located on one side of the threaded end 30 of the shaft 27, and on the other side of said shaft is another rod 33 extending between the plate 2 and the upright 28. The shaft end 30 and the two rods 32 and 33 are all shown as on approximately the same level, but this is not an obligatory arrangement, since they may be otherwise located.

Mounted on and slidable along the rod 32 is a sleeve 34 fast to one end of an arm 35 extended along the screw threaded end 30 of the shaft 27 and over the rod 33. Im-.

mediately over' the threaded end 30 ofi-the shaft27 the arm 35 is provided with a half nut 36; that is, the nut is incomplete cirvcumferentially so as to rest upon and mesh with the threaded portion 30 of the shaft 27. The arm 35 is supported by the rod 33 and at the end of the arm 35 remote from the sleeve 34 which end extends over the mandrel 24, the arm carries a sound reproducing sound box 37, shown in the drawings as of the type customarily employed for the reproduction of the kind of sound records produced upon cylindrical record tablets. This sound boxis taken as typical of any suitable type of sound box, and the arm 35 with the driving and supporting means therefor is to be taken as typical of any sound reproducing apparatus adaptableto the present invention.

The sound box 37 is shown as supporting an amplifying horn 38 by means of a neck 39, and this horn is presented toward a mouth piecei or receiving intensifier 40 of a telephone transmitter which is assumed to be inclosed in a box 41.

Carried by the plate 3 is an outstanding bracket 42 in the outer end of which is journaled one end of a shaft 43, the. other end of said shaft being journaled in the plate 3 adjacent to which the shaft carries a pinion v 44 in mesh with the gear wheel 19. Mountspring strips 46, which at the other ends are all made fast toa collar 47 on the shaft 43, said collar beingheld in anyl suitable ad- ]usted position bya set screw 48. Balls or welghts 49 are made fast to each spring strip 46. The disk .45, springs 46, collar 47, weights 49 and shaft 43 represent a familiar form of centrifugal governor frequently employed, in connection with spring or other motors, and may be taken as typical of any suitable form ofl governor adapted to the purposes of the present invention.

Mounted on the plate 3 are closely associated but spaced ears 50, constituting journals for a trunnion pin 51 carried by a lever 52, although, of course, the lever might be made to turn upon the pin 51, since the purpose of the trunnion pin 51 is to Yserve as a pivot or fulcrum. The lever 52 has one arm extended until opposite that face of the'disk 45 remote from the plate 3, and there the arm carries an adjustable engaging member 53 adapted to bear upon the disk 45. In the drawings the bearing member is shown as an ordinary screw, but it will be understood thatany bearing member such as is employed in connection with centrifugal governors of the typeshown inthe drawings In'ay be used. 1

At the other end the lever 52, which leNer in the showing of the drawings is an upright lever, is expanded into an armature 54 in operative relation to the, polar ends 55 of an electromagnet 56 carried by the plate 2 and extended into suitable operative relation to the armature end 54 of the lever52.

Fast at one end to the plate 3 is a spring 57 bearing'at the other end against the lever 52 on the side of the pivot 51 remote from the screw`53 and imparting to the lever a constant tendency to bear against the disk 45.

The train of gearing under c'ontrol of the spring in the spring drum 6'is normally held against motion by the frictional engagement ofthe screw 53 with the disk 45. Then the magnet 56 is energized the arma- .ture 54 is attracted against the action of the movement of the trainlof gearing continues so long as the magnet 56 is energized, but when the circuit through the magnet is broken the spring 57 returns the lever 52 to its first position and the pressure Iof the brake member 53 upon the disk 45 is sufficient to hold the governor against rotation, and thereby hold the entire train `of gearing against further rotation.'

Secured to the plates 2 and 3 and extending between them is a block 58 ofinsulating material located adjacent to the drum 11. Carried by the block 58 are spring fingers 59 having free'lends 60 tending toward the drum 11. Mounted on the block 58 are other fingers 61 in the path of the ends 60 of the fingers 59, but the tendency of the fingers 591s to move Iaway from the fingers 61 for a short distance.

The drum l1 carries pins 62, 63 projecting generally radially therefrom and so disposed with relation to the ends 60 of they `of rotation of the drum 11 and the outer surface of this ,extension 64 is roughened or serrated, as shown at 65, so that on moving into engagement with the end 60 of the respective finger 59 in its path, the finger 59v is moved into and out of engagement with the finger 61 a number of times in rapid succession. rlhe pins 63 may be ordinary projecting pins in the pathI of which are other fingers 59.

In the ordinary operation of the system the pin 62 may be considered as a hundreds pin, While the pins 63 may represent tens and units, and if there be a greater number of series 'of pins they may represent higher denominations.

lt is customary to indicate fire alarm stations numerically, and hence the pins or a succession of pins in the same circumferential row represent certain numbers. For instance, if in the units row there be one pin, the signal transmitted represents 1. If in the tens row there be three pins the number of impulses transmitted is 3 and if in theA hundreds row there be seven pins, the number of impulses transmitted'is 7 wherefore the number of the station under the conditions assumed would be 731. If the number of the station be less than one hundred, the pins 62 4and 63 are arranged accordingly to represent tens by the pin 62 and units by4 a rowof pins 63.

If it be assumed that a signal is being sent the first sound heard at the receiving station is a very rapid succession of noises due to therapid making and breaking of the circuit by the elongated portion 64 of the pin 62, and when this pin leaves the respective finger 59 a distant signal sound is produced to be followed by other signal sounds, usually the stroke of a bell if the number of the station in tens or hundreds, as the case may be, is above 1. Following the firstnumber transmitted will be a second number, and 'often a third number, 'depending upon the number assigned to the particular station.

'The fingers 59 and 61 have respective conductors 66 and 67 connected thereto, and these `conductors may be continued to some central point where fire signals are received, and there may be located any suitable receiving apparatus, theconstruction -of which need not be entered into here. Y

During the sending of the signal in the manner described, motion is imparted to the shaft 27 and the threaded portion 30 thereof imparts to the sound reproducer 37 a pro- 100 gressive movement over the tablet 35, the latter being rotated in the manner already described. The record upon the tablet 25 maybe of any suitable character, and the` sounds are uttered by the amplifier 38 into 105 the receiving mouth piece 40 of the telephone transmitter. By means to be described the transmitter is automatically coupled up into` circuit to the telephone central station where the operator receives the information con- 11o veyed by the sound record. Such information may give to the central station operator the location of the fire, and even the specific portion of the building where the fire is in progress. This information is at once con- 115 veyed to fire headquarters, so that should the first signal fail to reach headquarters the telephone information may reach headquarters.

Connecting the top of the upright 29 with .12o the end plate 3 in spaced relation one to the other and on opposite sides of the threaded -end 31 of the shaft 27 are rods 68, 69, re-

. force applied to the nose 77 in rounded by a spring 73 conveniently seated in a countersink 74 formed in the block 70, one end of the spring being made fast to the block and the other end engaging the switch lever 71. The spring 73 imparts to lthe switch lever 71 a constant tendency to move in one direction. rlhe switch lever 71 is held in one position in opposition to the normal tendency of the spring 73 by a latch lever 74 mounted between ears 7 5 fast to the top of the'block 70. The lever 74 hasone end 76 in the form of a tooth ada ted to engage over one edge of the lever 1 to hold will snap into the path of the lever 71 when the latter is moved to a position permitting such action of the tooth 76. An appropriate osition to act thereon to one side of the pivot of the lever 74 will rock the lever against the action of the spring 78 so as to lift the tooth 76 out of the path of the lever 71, and the latter will then move on the pivot 72 under the action of the spring 73. A

At one side of the block in the 'path of the switch lever 71 remote from the pivot 72 are'two contact terminals 79, 80, respectively, these contact terminals being bridged by the lever 71 when the lever is locked by the engagement of the tooth 76 therewith. On the opposite side of the block 70 are other contact terminals 81, 82, respectively, engaged and bridged by the lever 71 when released from the latch tooth 76 and movedy into engagement with the terminals 81, 82, under thev action of the spring 73. r1`he lever 71 is provided with a handle 83 whereby t-he lever may be moved from engagement with the contacts 81 and 82 into engagement with the contacts7 9 and 80 where the lever is held by the latch tooth 76.

The Contact 79 is connected by a conductor 84 to one side of the magnet 56. The Contact 80 is connected to a conductor 85 to which reference will hereinafter be made.

I The other side of the magnet 56 is connected l to a conductor 86 to which reference will hereinafter be made.

The circuit terminals 81 and 82 are connected to respective conductors 87, 88 leading to the street for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Mounted to slide on the rod 69 is a sleeve 89 carrying two closely associated spaced side plates 90 constituting a carriage. The end of each plate remote from the sleeve 89 is provided with a projecting finger 91 adapted to rest upon and slide along the rod 68. Mounted between the side plates 90 is a rock member 92 supported by a pivot 93 carried bygthe two plates 90. At one end the rock member 92 is formed with a mutilated or half nut 94 suitably threaded to engagethe threads of the threaded portion 3'1 of the shaft 27, and the arrangement-is such that when the half nut portion 94 of the member 92 is in engagement with the threaded portion 31, no ordinary force eX- erted in theaction of the apparatus will lift the member 92 or the carriage 90 in a direction to release the mutilated nut 94 from engagement with the threaded portion 31. A spring .95 carried by the plates 90 and bearing upon the member 92 serves to maintain the nut 94 in engagement with the threaded portion 31. The member 92 is traversed by a pin 96 adapted tol engage the side plates 90 close to the lingers 91, these side plates being eachI provided with avnotch 97 for the reception of the respective end of the pin 96. The end of the member 92 remote from the nutportion 94' is formed into Aa iinger piece 98 projecting from between away from the screw 31, and then the carriage made up of the plates 90 and parts carried thereby may be moved along the rods 68 and 69 to any appropriate extent. Carried by that plate 90 toward the block-70 is a projection 99, so located as to strike the nose 77 of the lever 74 at a low point thereon, and when this occurs a further movement of the carriage 90 under the action of the screw 31 causes a rocking of the lever 74 to unlatch the switch lever 71, so that the latter moves from its normal position of bridging relation to the contacts 79 and 80 into bridging relation to the contacts 814 and 82, this being for a purpose to be described. In Fig. 10 there is diagrammatically represented a fire alarm system in which the structures already described are utilized.

Mains 100, 101 are installed in the building where the fire alarm system is located, andthese mains are charged in any `suitable manner as by an appropriate source of current represented by a' battery 102, although it will be understood that any other source of electric energy may be used. The mainsV and 101 are carried wherever needed and may be branched in any direction necessary for the proper installation of the system. One of thevmains, say, the main 101, has the conductor 85 connected thereto and to the `other main there is connected a conductor 103 having its continuity interrupted at an appropriate point by a thermostatic or other suitably responsive device 104. The purpose ot the device 104 is to cause a completion of the electrical continuity of the conductor 103 in the event of a fire in the neighborhood of the device 104. There are ideama numerous devices` for the purpose, some causing a closure of the circuit by the actlon of heat, others causing the closure of the cirfor the purposemay be considered as represented by the device 104 in the diagram" which is conventionally shown as a thermostatic circuit closer.

The conductor 103 also includes la contact 105 and is continued to one side 'of an electromagnet 106, the other'side of Which is connected to the conductor 86 leading to the electromagnet 56. Under the control of the magnet 106 is anv armature 107 in turn controlling a latch 108 normallyholding a contact109 in the open circuit position, said contact having constant constraint tovvard the closed circuit position by means of a spring 110 or otherwise. In the path of the contact 109 is another contact 111 in circuit with which is the telephonie transmitter 41. The contact 109 and the transmitter 41 are respectively connected to leads 112 and 113, which may be considered as carried to a telephone central station, so that in the event of the closure of the circuit at the contacts 109 and 111 a central station operator is notified. By having the notification of a character apprising the central station operator ofthe fact that the call comes from a fire 'alarm installation, the operator at once notifies the fire authorities of the message received, such arrangement -being a check upon the automatic sending of the alarm directly to the fire headquarters.

Connected to the main 100 is another conductor 114 terminating at the contact 115 close to but separated from the contact 105.

.Associated with the contacts 105 and 115 is a bridge member 116 carried by a spring arm 117. rlhe contacts 105 Fand 115 and the bridging member 116 and arm 117 are mounted in a box 118 provided with a glass front 119 similar lto the glassl protectors of fire alarm boxes and requiring the breaking of theglass in order that the bridge member 116 maybe moved into bridging relation to the contacts 105 and 115. Since it is desirable that the bridging member maintain itsposition after being moved into circuit closing relation to the contacts 105 and 115, the parts may follow the construction of an ordinary jack-knife switch.

l Difiiculty has been found in attempting the closure of a circuit by breaking the glass `protecting plate because of the liability of particles of glass getting on to the contacts and preventing a proper closure thereof. To avoid this the glass plate 119 has a passage 120 therethrough, Which passage may be provided with a bushing 121. Mounted in the bushing 121 is a knob l122 yprovided with a. stem 123 in normally close relation to the bridging member 116. ln event of a fire a blow is delivered to the knob 122,A

which bloiv results in the shattering of the glass 119, but before any particles of glass can possibly reach the contacts 105 and 115, the bridging member 116 has engaged them in good electrical contact With both.

Each conductor 103 may include as many devices 104 'in multiple as may be found expedient. In a large building a ire alarm apparatus such as described With reference to Fig. 1 and associated gures might be installed on each floor with thermostatic or other devices 104 located at many points on each Hoor, so that a fire starting almost anywhereupon a floor Will quickly aect a thermostatic device 104to cause the operation of the alarm sending mechanism transmitting to the fire headquarters a number alarm and to the central telephone station such information as may be contained upon the sound record provided. Such sound record may contain some expression indicative of the presence of fire, and also state the building location and the fire location, and such other information as ymay be useful, and the arrangement is such that this information is repeated one or tivo times as a matter of precaution the same as it is customary to similarly repeat the number alarm to avoid any chance .of error Which might occur if the alarm number Were given but once.

Suppose that With an installation such as represented in Fig. 10 a fire should occur, and some one of the thermostatic devices 104 be affected by the fire so as to close the circuit at the thermostat. rlhe conductors 100 and 101 are assumed to be always charged. Then there is provided a circuit from the battery 102 to the conductor 100, thence by Way ofthe conductor 103 and thermostatic device 104 to the magnet 106 and by Way of the conductor 86 to the magnet 56, the circuit continuing through the conductor 84, switch lever 71, and conductor 85 to the main 101 and from thence returning to the battery 102. The energization of the magnet 106 by the circuit thus traced causes a movement of the latch `108 in a direction to release the contact 109, which latter then moves into engagement with the contact 111, and so closes the transmitter circuit to central. The energization of the magnet 56 causes a relase of the mechanical actuating devices represented by the train of gearing and parts driven thereby. rlFhis results in the rotation of the drum 11 causing repeated consecutive openings of the circuits includ- ,in g the conductors 66 and 67 to thereby 180 cause the productionV of the alarm at the tire headquarters in the usual way, except that at the start the serrated portion 65 of the pin 62l produces a preliminary attention-direction effect at the fire headquarters immediately preceding the sounding of the alarm. The pins 62 and 63 are, it will be understood, so disposed that the alarm is appropriately sent and repeated as is customary in the sending of fire alarms. `While the sending of the impulses producing the alarm at headquarters is proceeding, the carriage 90 is being propelled by the screw 31 toward the. block 70 and the sound box 37 is being propelled by the screw 30 along the record 25. `Since at the start of the alarm giving operations the telephone transmitter 41'has been connected up to central, the sound uttered by the mouthpiece or amplifier' and received by the mouthpiece 40 is heard by the central operator. The movement of the. carriage 90 is such that at thel termination of the signal sending operations the projection 99 is brought into contact with the latch lever 74 and the switch arm 71 is released, thereby cutting out the l magnets 56 and 106 and cutting in the conbranch conductors, such parts are not usuductors 87 and 88. When the magnets 56 and 106 are denergized the parts controlled thereby are released,so that the telephone transmitter 41 is cut out of circuit and the motor driving the alarm sending apparatus and other parts is stop ed 'by the braking action of the brake mem er 53.

Should it be desirable to send an alarm when the conditions are not such as to cause closure of some one of the thermostatic devices 104, the apparatus may be set into op-h eration by delivering a blow upon the knob 122, thereby shattering the glass 119 and causing the bridging member 116 to close the circuit between the contacts 105 and 115, whereupon the circuit is closed as before, except that instead ofthe circuit being completed through the conductor 103 it is completed through the conductor 114. The operations described as to the working of the apparatus are the same as those Whiclroccur when the circuit is closed by a thermostatic device 104. Y

4 By properly rotecting the alarm sending apparatus and y protecting the main and ally damaged by fire, so that when the fire has been subdued the sending apparatus may be reset for subsequent operation.

The spring used to actuate the gear train in the structure shown may be of a character permitting successive operations of the de'- vice without rewinding. The carriage or traveler 90 is returned to its first or initial position toward the plate 3 by first moving the member 92 so as to release the nut 94 from the screw 31 and then sliding the traveler away from the block to the desired extent. The sound box 37 is also returned to the beginning of the record 25 and this may be done bysimply lifting the sound boX-so as to release the part nut 36 from the screw 30 and the return of the sound box to engagement with the sound record causes a rengagement of the nut 36 with the screw vention is of the normally' closed-circuit type, but'for some reason or other it may occur'that after the sending of the alarm the drum 11 stops at a point where the circuit through the conductors 66, 67 is open. Under such circumstances it might transpire that a considerable number of the street alarm boxes would be rendered inoperative because of a circuit being open instead of closed. To overcome thisdiificulty is the purpose of the switch arm 71 since as soon as the Asending apparatus reaches the conclusion of its operative movement the street circuit is restablished in the closed circuit condition by the bridging of lthe terminals 81 and 82, while the local sending apparatus, after the operative movements, is cut out of service,jand can only be restored manually.

While the device has been described as including both the telegraphic and telephonie ,transmitters it will be understood that the mitting signals to a distance, means for actuating the signal producing means and having a constant tendency to operate, electrically controlled means for holding the actuating means against operation and responsive to fire conditions to cause the release of said actuating means, telephonographic ymeans for reproducing a phonograph record and transmitting the reproduced sounds to a distance, and connections between the actuating means and the telephonographic means for causing the actuation of the latter with the signal producing means.

2. An electric re'alarm system comprising automatic means responsive to re conditions for sending a signal to a distant point, and manually-operable means for causing the operation of the signal sending means independently `of' the portionof-the latter directly responsive to ire conditions, said manually-operable means being provided With shatterable means holding it in the vinactive position and located With respect to the manually operable means to.be

shattered by, a force moving said manually operable means to the lclosed position.

3. An electric ire alarm system, comprising means for automatically sending a signalto a distant point,"means automatically responsive to rire conditions for causing the operation of the signal sending means, manually-operable means for causing the operation of the signal sending means independently of the means automatically responsive tol lire conditions, shatterable4 means for holding the manually operable means in the inactive position `and in the path of the,` said manually operable means 'to be broken by a force moving said manually operable means to the active position, and telephonographic means'associated With the signal sending means and operable simultaneously therewith in response to either fire responsive to lire conditions for controlling the first-named means, telephonographic means associated With the first-named means for transmitting information bythe operation of the first-named means, 'manuallyoperable means for causing the actuation of the electrically controlled means and the telephonographic means independent of the means responsive to fire conditions, and' means controlled by the first-named means for short-c1rcu1t1ng the signal sendlng means .at the completionof the signal sending operation.

6. In an electric fire alarm system, means for the production and transmission of electrical impulses in predetermined order and at predetermined speed over an alarm circuit for causing intelligible signals at a distance, and means for producing as a part of the same orderly set of intelligible signals and immediately preceding them a succession of impulses so rapid as to serve as a preliminary Warning signal distinct from the alarm signal.

7 ln an apparatus for the sending of fire LUZ? alarm signals, circuit making and breaking devices in prearranged order and movable at a predetermined speed Withthe circuit making and breaking device `lirst active including a multiple circuit making and breaking means active at a materially higher rate of speed for the sole' production of a Warning signal immediately preceding and characteristically distinct from the sending of the intelligible signal impulses.

8. ln an electric fire alarm signal appara- I tus, circuit making and breaking devices,

and a rotatable member carrying pins for engaging the circuit making and breaking devices in predetermined order and at a predetermined speed, the pin rst active in the operation of the apparatusbeing prolonged in the direction of movement and provided with a toothed or serrated surface.

for imparting to the circuit making and breaking device a rapid succession of actuations, whereby the production of the distant signal is preceded by a Warning signal of different characteristics.

v9.1m an apparatus for electrical transmission of fire alarm signals, circuit making and breaking devices arranged to cause electrical impulses in predetermined order to produce the signal, a spring driven train of gearing for actuating the circuit making and/breaking devices in the predetermined order, a governor fordetermining the speed of the train of gearing, a brake for the governor, electromagnetic means for actuatlng the brake inv a direction to cause the release of the governor and the train of gearing controlled thereby, and circuit control- .ling means in ci-rcuit with the electro-magnetic means and under the control of the spring driven gearing for breaking the circuit of the electro-'magnetic means to cause the brake to stop the train nof gearing.

10. ,In ,an electric apparatus for the transmission of fire alarm signals, mechanically operated driving means, circuit making and breaking means connected to the mechanically operated means for actuation thereby and provided with connections for the electrical transmissionof the signals to a distance, a phonographic apparatus connected to the mechanically operated driving means for actuation thereby with the phonographic apparatus and the circuit making and breaking means simultaneously active, and telephonic apparatus in operative relation to the p honographic apparatus for transmission to a distance of sounds produced by said lphonographic apparatus..

11. In in electric apparatus for theV transmission of fire alarm signals, mechanically operated driving means, electric circuit controlling means connected to the mechanically operated driving. means for actuation thereby, a phonographic apparatus connectiso ed to the mechanically operated driving means for actuation thereby, a brake for the phonographic apparatus, electro-magnetic means for controlling the brake, and telephonie apparatus in ope -ative relation to the phonographic means for the transmission of sounds produced by the phonographic apparatus, the telephonie apparatus being provided with electromagnetic means for including it in the telephonie circuit on the energiza'tion of the electromag- .netic means, and said last-named electromagnetic means and the electromagnetic means controlling the brake having common means for controlling the circuit thereto.

12. In a fire alarm apparatus for the production of electrical impulses for the oper'- ation of'distant signals, means for the production of electric impulses for causing distant signals, means for actuating the firstnamed means, electromechanical means for controlling the actuating means and including a switch, a normally open circuit having circuit terminals adapted to be bridged by the switch for the short-circuiting of the electromechanical means, and means driven by the actuating meansand timed in movement to cause the bridging of the circuit terminals by the switch on the completion of the sending of the signal impulses.

13. In an apparatus for sending fire alarm signals, circuit making and breaking devices for producing electrical impulses, driving mechanism for the circuit making and breaking devices, electromagnetic controlling devices for the driving mechanism, circuit terminals for the electromagnetic controlling means, a switch .for closing said circuit terminals, other circuit terminals in the path of the switch for short-circuiting the means for producing the electrical impulses when said circuit terminals are bridged by the switch, and means actuated by the driving mechanism and movable in timed relation to the circuit making and breaking devices for causing the switch to be moved from closing relation to the terminals of the electromagnetic means to closing relation tothe short-circuiting terminals.

14. In a fire alarm apparatus, means for the production of electric impulses for causing distant signals, driving means for the first-named means, electromagnetic means for controlling lthe driving means, a switch lever and circuit terminals normally bridged thereby and included in circuit with the electromagnetic means, said lever having a normal tendency away from said circuit terminals, other circuit terminals in the path of the lever and adapted to be bridged thereby for short-circuiting the electrical impulse causing means, a latch for holding the lever in bridging relation to the first-named terminal, and a traveler actuated by the drivthe first-named terminals and into engagement with the second-named terminals.

15. In a fire alarm apparatus, means for causing electrical impulses for the production of distant signals, driving means for the first-named means, a shaft connected to the driving means for actuation thereby, said shaft having different sets of screw threads thereon, phonographic apparatus connected to the driving means and in part controlled by one of the screw threaded portions of the shaft, telephonic apparatus in operative relation to the phonographic means, electromagnetic controlling means for the driving means having circuit terminals included therein, a switch lever havingy a normal tendency in one direction, other circuit terminals in the path of the switch lever in the direction of its normal tendency, a latch for the switch lever, and a traveler controlled by the other screw threadedportion of the shaft and movable into engagement with the latch to release the llever at the completion of the active movement of the circuit controlling means.

16. In a fire alarm apparatus, means for the production of electrical impulses to cause the actuation of distant signals, a driving means therefor, electromechanical controlling means for the driving means for stopping and releasing said driving means, a switch for'controlling the electromechanical means and having a normal tendency to open the circuit of the electromechanical means, and means for causing the switch to move to the open circuit position with respect to the electromechanical means under its no'rmal tendency, comprising a latch for holding the switch in the circuit closing position, a traveler provided with a member having a mutilated 'nut and-having one end accessible for manipulation, and a threaded shaft adapted to be engaged by the nut and connected to the driving mechanism for movement thereby to engage the latch and release thekswitch.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

Witnesses:

T. E. I-IARmsoN, T.l WV.' ROGERS. 

